Honda CBR 250R Review

News Update

21st February, 2015: Honda has added another member in its prime sports bike series, CBR. It is powered by a mighty 250cc engine which sounds heavenly to our speedy freaks. Inspired by the racing culture, Honda CBR250R Repsol limited edition features an impressive colour scheme which also wraps Honda’s MotoGP superbikes. The bike comes in five variants including Standard, ABS and Repsol special edition. Honda CBR250R is the second most affordable superbike from the Honda’s stable, which is priced in the range of Rs. 1,59,000 to 1,87,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Besides the Repsol special edition, the bike is available exclusively in three more colours: Black, Pearl Sunbeam White and Sports Red. With its superb styling and and powerful engine, the bike will be a tough competitor for KTM Duke 390 and KTM RC 200.

Overview

Honda’s premium sportbike series, CBR, now enter the entry-level segment of bikes in India with the introduction of Honda CBR250R. With its launch, manufacturer created opportunities for the Indian riders to experience the heavenly feel of riding a CBR model at such an affordable price. Honda released the bike in India focussing on the youth who want a package that includes pleasing power with magnetic looks. The much-awaited bike nows comes with a special edition as well.

Honda CBR250R is powered by a 249cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine which is mated to a six-speed constant mesh gearbox. The engine produces an impressive power of 26bhp at 8500rpm with a peak torque of 22.9Nm at 7500rpm. The four-valve engine functions through PGM-Fi (Programmed Fuel Injection System).

Honda CBR250R is crafted on a Diamond frame with truss structure. The bike comes equipped with 110/70-17 front and 140/70-17 rear sized tubeless tyres respectively. The braking duties of the machine are carried out by 296mm front and 226mm rear disc brakes that are coupled with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). It has telescopic suspension at the front and pro-link adjustable monoshock at the rear.

Honda CBR250R also shares its sporty full front cowling with its younger mate, CBR150R. The split seat incorporated in the bike looks stunning. The all-black coated exhaust with its pentagonal section enhances its aggressive nature. The instrument console with blue-backlight displays digital speedometer, analogue tachometer and twin tripmeters.

Coming to the rear, the bike features a pointed tail lamp with clear lens indicators. The split-seats with grab rail for the pillion rider and a smart rear end further enhances the appeal of the bike. The overall looks and dynamics of Honda CBR250R are truly inspired from experience of the race tracks. With Honda’s footprint in the 250cc class, it now aims to serve every sports-bike segment in India.

Design

Honda CBR 250R is an entry-level performance bike gets its appearance inspired by the legendary CBR series. The main attraction of the machine is its full front fairing and sporty rear end. With the body of a supersports bike, this little CBR is crafted on a Diamond frame with Truss structure that keeps the stability intact in various riding conditions. The motorcycle is made run on 110/70-17-inch front and 140/70-17-inch rear tubeless tyres. The 5-spoke alloy wheels encircled with the tyres sport 296mm disc brake at the front and 220mm disc brake at the rear. The braking system is responsive and effective with the incorporation of Combined Anti-lock braking system.

The suspensions of the machine tick telescopic forks for the front section and monoshock absorber for the rear portion. The overall dimensions achieved with the bike are 2032mm x 720mm x 1127mm (l x w x h). With a wheelbase of 1367mm and a minimum ground clearance of 145mm, the bike is ready to roll on the Indian terrains. The kerb weight is 163kg, which is easy to handle for the rider. The aggressive fuel tank design comes along 13 liter of storage capacity. The bike sports split seat, split grab rails, stylish muffler and honeycomb cut tail light lens design that makes it totally worth spending the money it asks for.

The instrument cluster of the machine is equipped with a digital and an analog unit that sport speedometer, clock, fuel level, engine temperature, trip meter and other tell tales. The bike is available in Cynos Grey, Pearl Sunbeam White, Sports Red and CBR Repsol.

Engine & Performance

Honda CBR 250R is propelled by a 249.6cc, air-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC, 4-stroke, SI engine that incorporates PGM-FI, which smoothens power delivery and throttle response. The motor is mated to a 6-speed gearbox that performs one down and all up gear shift patterns. The mill is tuned to churn out a maximum power of 26.15bhp at 8,500rpm with a peak torque of 22.9Nm at 7,000rpm. With these values, the machine can touch a top speed of 135kmph. Viscous paper filter has been bestowed to the engine that keeps its maintenance low and pocket friendly.

Braking & Handling

The fat rear tyre of the machine is equipped with sound braking system that consists of disc brakes at both the ends and Combined Anti-lock braking system. Therefore, rider has ample amount of power to stop the machine in time. The riding position of this sports bike is quite comfortable and with a good seat height riders find it easy to handle and steer in city.

Safety Features

Honda CBR 250R is equipped with combined anti-lock braking system that enables rider to stop the machine easily and hassle free. The system reduces the chances of skidding and helps the rider control the situation well. The rear tyre, which is fat enough provides ample of traction and keeps the rider confident while cornering.